The spillage is real. Whether you're measuring a small amount for a recipe, or shaking a mound into your sink drain, baking soda always leaves a powdery mess behind. You'd think someone would have designed a better spout for baking soda boxes by now, but at such a low price point (less than a buck a box) we can't really expect many bells and whistles. It's what's inside that matters anyway — right?

So it follows that we just go on with life, expecting a spill every single time we pour baking soda out of the box.

But spills mean waste. So why not take matters into your own hands and remedy the problem by simply transferring the contents of the box into a vessel that's more efficient (and easier) to use?

A salt shaker (empty of any previous contents) is inexpensive and gives a precise pour every time. It also fits perfectly in your cleaning caddy. Admittedly, I was a bit worried about clumps, but that soda streamed right out of the holes like water every time.

You can likely find a simple salt shaker in the housewares aisle of your local grocery store, or snag one on Amazon for around $5.

(Editor's note: The cheapest salt shaker result on Amazon is for those caps that turn a Corona bottle into salt and pepper shakers, in case you want to bring a little Key West to your cleaning caddy. In any case, it'll help you tell apart your table salt from your baking soda shaker, which is super important. Make sure you label everything clearly!)

If nothing else, the satisfaction that comes from not having to deal with that box each time you use baking soda is a major win in my book!

Why baking soda should be in your cleaning kit:

Baking soda is an all-natural, slightly abrasive compound. While it's a neutral, its PH is slightly higher, making it mildly basic. Most odors are acidic, so baking soda reacts with them, neutralizing the air. It absorbs odors rather than masks them, and since it's mildly abrasive, it can clean everything from your teeth to silver. There are very few things in your home you actually can't clean with baking soda.